Cabbie shoots colleague during dispute

About a week ago, a cab driver allegedly told his colleagues that he was going to take in his licensed firearm to the Firearm Licensing Authority as he had got baptised and did not see a need for it.

However, yesterday, the man, who is believed to be in his 60s, fired a fatal bullet into the head of anther taxi driver who reportedly attacked him footsteps away from the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH). The deceased has been identified as Carlo Ellis. An alleged eyewitness told THE STAR that both men had a dispute over the senior citizen parking and picking up passengers at KPH. He also alleged that Ellis had threatened the man on several occasions.

"The one weh dead ever a fass with the man. All when the man nuh see him, him ago interfere with him because is a man who nuh talk much. This morning (yesterday) him see the man sit inside him car him car and tell him how him ago shell him down as him drop off him passengers. Him wait until him a come back up," the eyewitness said.

According to police reports, about 10:15 a.m., the licensed firearm holder was sitting in his car when he was approached by Ellis. An argument developed between them during which Ellis attacked the man by punching him repeatedly in the face. The firearm holder pulled his Glock 17 pistol from his waistband and discharged one round, hitting Ellis to the head, killing him on the spot. The other cabbie reportedly turned himself in to the police.

The eyewitness said after listening to Ellis' threats, the man was advised to make a report to the police.

"Every day this man park in this spot once him nah work because yuh know taxi ting work offa time, and almost every day dis man come interfere with him. Him constantly threaten di man and now see him lose him three points (life) just like that. Him take the man lightly because him quiet and see it deh, just one shot leave him in the hot sun on him back," he said.

As detectives processed the crime scene yesterday, a few of Ellis' relatives peered at his lifeless body. They painted a different picture of Ellis.

"Him get ignorant easily but him nuh trouble people, suh a must summen else happen. Him have him two children dem and a long time him a run up a yard (Jones Town) route. Him no trouble people so summen nuh right," a relative said.

- S.M.L.